The Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity by Age, Gender and Province among Iranian Hajj Pilgrims in 2012-2022
نویسندگان
1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Metabolic Disease Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
2 Iranian Red Crescent Society, Haj Medical Center, Tehran, Iran
3 Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Al anbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran
4 Research Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran
5 Department of Health, Safety, and Environment Management, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Iran
6 Department of Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
7 Department of Anesthesiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
8 Cardiovascular Disease Research Institute, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
9 Iranian Red Crescent Society, Haj Medical Center. Tehran, Iran
10 Research Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran
11 English Language Department, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
12 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
doi
10.22034/ircmj.2024.201827چکیده
Background and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of obesity and overweight, as well as the services offered to pilgrims between 2012 and 2022. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2023. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated by age, gender, and province. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to examine the impact of six variables, including age, gender, and the presence of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, and cardiovascular diseases, on the body mass index (BMI) of Hajj pilgrims from 2012 to 2022. Results: According to the study findings, the highest frequency of obese individuals was observed among pilgrims aged 45 to 70 years (874 cases). Approximately 63% of male and 70% of female pilgrims were obese. The highest prevalence of obesity was found in Semnan province. Additionally, all the variables examined in the binary logistic regression model, except for thyroid, had a statistically significant impact on BMI. Older age, female gender (OR = 1.433), cardiovascular diseases (OR = 2.07), high blood pressure (OR = 2.172), and diabetes (OR = 3.226) were associated with high BMI (overweight and obesity). Conclusion: The study findings reveal significant variations in obesity rates based on age, gender, and geographical location. However, there appears to be a lack of detailed information on how pilgrims adapt their lifestyles and behaviors to manage risk factors during the Hajj pilgrimage. Therefore, it is crucial for primary care physicians to conduct screening, diagnosis, and appropriate management to prevent adverse health outcomes and alleviate the economic burden.
